History shows us that slavery was an integral part of human civilization, and that social system, in one form or another, kept the society from disintegrating - in that everyone had to have a place and duty to perform. Being owned by one person seemed to be quite an unaccepted yet unwanted reality. It was the norm. It is astonishing to look back and realize that people, slaves and non-slaves in general, kept up with this status for centuries when it could have been left, stopped, or abolished for a better world. Despite officially terminating the last form of [conventional] slavery (by law) in 1981, in Mauritania, Africa, have we really abandoned this old, selfish ways for good? Or have we only gotten so used to the concept that we’ve become incapable of identifying unconventional forms of it?

1. Who Am I?

A question that could serve as an umbrella for two branches of dilemmas: insecurities and misidentification. As media devours the most fragile of adolescents with the most ridiculous, most out of reach standards, especially at a time when these individuals are just starting to figure things out, things tend to go out of bound and turn catastrophic. Having insecurities means losing the freedom to be proud of being oneself. Insecurities are huge forces that force you to do/be/want something other than what is innate to yourself. You could have been excellent in math because you were born to be a mathlete, but media teaches you that math is boring, but shopping isn’t.

Misidentification is the opposite of insecurities. In this sense, media teaches you to get lost, to wander off into some unknown ‘paradise’. Little does one know that that so called ‘paradise’ is outside from one’s own and is hell wrapped in a pretty covering. When one does not know herself, she tends to live by blindly. She is unaware of where she wants to go, so she tends to get pushed around mindlessly, confirming and affirming to whatever and therefore submitting to this so-called slavery that she obeys to follow.

2. SMASH THE PATRIACHY!!!!

… is what twitter users keep shouting insistently, through the excessive use of exclamation points, question marks, and emojis. But I guess this message makes sense and its relevance is of utmost importance. Sexism has taken a toll on a lot of women, even those that don’t identify themselves as feminists. In many places (still), men are usually the rulers of the family, while women are destined to devote and master the domestic life. While embracing domestic life is not at all bad, the thought of being obligated to run the house because of gender and not by choice is abusive at best. Double standards conquer the world as well, and have given a set of expectations that come out as absurd. Observations such as women who are rowdy are not ladies, women who don’t wear skirts are lesbians, women who are career-oriented are not good homemakers, are just some of the really pathetic, narrow-minded opinions that shouldn’t be the basis for how one woman lives. SO CHOOSE TO BE A FREE WOMAN!!! or maybe check out comics that actually smash the patriarchy.

If you want know, more or less, how women are treated these days, watch this Upworthy video. (NSFW)

3. Arts? Nah. Expression? A must! But nah.

Another serious form of slavery. Denying the arts for something else.

Everybody insists that everyone should follow their heart, their dreams, their true calling. But what if one wishes to be an artist? What if one wants to devote her life to playing the cello? What if one wants to open her own soup kitchen? Will everyone be impressed with her dreams? Will everyone appreciate her as they appreciate the engineers, the pilots, the lawyers, and the doctors? The answer would less likely be yes.

Our society has become so absorbed with earning money, with buying luxury, that we forget to understand the underlying essence of living - which is making our dreams into reality. Isn’t being an artist as noble a profession as being an engineer? Without the arts, life ceases to exist. Art communicates - it is life. We tell our lawmakers to give freedom of speech a chance, but we put the appreciation for the arts at the last of our list of priorities. Isn’t art a form of speaking? Why are we so ready to tell our children to leave the arts for a better, more “ professional” career when we know they’ll become better persons doing what they love? Building careers shouldn’t be about the money one earns alone, but it should also be the fulfillment one gets. When one loves what she does, the rest, including money, should follow. Here's Proof.

Note: Everything is not always what they seem - so watch out. You might just be a slave or practicing slavery in the most unconventional forms.